Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-10-01
THESOUTH'S ONWARD MARCH
A REVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL PRO
EREsS FOR THREE MONTHS.

The Steady Advance OF the Southern
states all Along the Line-A Continuous
Wonderful Development In all Branches
of Manufacturing Industry.
The Tradesman, of Chattanooga, Tenn.
in its quarterly review of the Southern
industrial situation, says:
The past three months, although en-
bracing the midsummer period, shows
no cessation in the wonderful industrial
development in all sections of the South.
While speculations have been restricted,
material growth has correspondingly
increased, and reports to the Tradesman
from commercial and industrial centres
of the South betoken the most gratifying
condition of affairE. Crops everywhere
in the South are above the average, and
the general volume of business is in
creased. Up to fortnight ago money
was easy, and, while collections are
somewhat slower now, the movement of
the crops will improve the financial
situation.
The industrial situation is very active
and manufacturers are crowded with
running on double time. Railroad build
ing is IN active progress in many of the
Southern states, and rolling mills in
Chattanooga and Birmingham have Or
ders for months ahead.
Returns from the Southern cotton
mills show important Improvements, the
consumption of cotton having increased
over 90, 600 bales in the past twelve
months. or nearly five and one half per
cent. The total number of mills up to
September 1, 1887, was 249; number of
spindles 1913, 3i6; number of looms 27.-
1858; cotton consumed per year 401, 452
bales
New companies are being rapidly
formed. In the past three months Thirty
two new factories have been organized,
divided as follows Alabama, 3; Arkan-
sas, l.; Georgia, 9. Louisiana, q North
Carolina, 12; South Carolina, 3; Ten
nessee, q Texas, Z.
The iron industry Southern iron
masters have been greatly rerpIexed over
the scarcity of coke, but this problem is
being solved by important developments
in this branch. In the past three months
twelve coke companies have been formed:
-Four in Alabama, four in Tennessee,
two in Virginia and two in West Vir-
ginia, and many others are in process of
formation. Work is rapidly progressing
on new blast furnaces in process of
erection in the South. In the past quar-
te' eleven new furnace companies were
organized: Five in Georgia, three in
Mississippi, one in Virginia and one in
West Virginia.
Gold and silver mines.-One of the
features in the past quarter has been the
remarkable development IN gold and
silver mining. Much attention is being
paid tv the industry, and vastly i'm
proved methods of mining are being
adopted In the past three months
fifteen smelling works have been erected
in Arkansas and thirty-one mining and
quarrying companies formed.
Natural gas aud oil.-In all the South
ern states much capital is being expend-
ed in the search of natural gas. None
has been found in paying quantities, but
prospectors are greatly encouraged. In
the past quarter thirty-one natural gas
and oil companies have been formed In
Alabama 3, Arkansas 3, Kentucky 8,
Tennessee 8, Texas 5, Virginia 3.
Woodworking mills. in the past
quarter SO woodworking establishments
have been formed in the South exclus
i've of saw mills: In Alabama %, Ar
kansas 10, Florida 1, Georgia 10, Ken
lucky 4, Louisiana 3, Mississippi 3,
North Carolina 10, South Carolina 1,
Tennessee 8, Texas I, Virginia 8, and
West Virginia 3.
Railroads.. = Eighty-seven railroad
companies have been Incorporated in the
past three months, of which Alabama
has nine, Arkansas 12, Florida 6, Geor-
gia 81, Kentucky 4, Louisiana 2, Missis-
sippi 2, North Carolina 6, South Caro-
lima 1, Tennessee 10, Texas z, Virginil
3 and West Virginia 5.
Miscellaneous Among the general
companies formed in the past quarter
are 90 bIick works, 26 electric light
works, 81 street railway companies and
30 foundry and machine shops. They
are pretty evenly divided among all the
States. Eve glass factories have been
organized: in Alabama, in Tcnnes.
see, and in Georgia. A great diversi-
ty Of other industries has been formed;
among them are 4S -four and grist mills,
Of which IA were in North Carolina and
/ in Texas; steel works 1, saw mills 81,
waterworks companies 80, coal and ore
mines and quarries 1873, miscellaneous,
including land and development COM
panies and minor industries, 1873.